Removable attachment for typewriters



April 11, 1939. J. A 2,153,631

REMOVABLE ATTACHMENT FOR TYPEWRITERS Filed May 6,1936 2 Sheets -Sheg 1' El ii 3 7+-3 IQ & JUUMH x 11 April 1939- J. F. KOCAY 2,153,631

REMOVABLE ATTACHMENT FOR TYFEWRITERS Filed May 6, 1936 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 fzuenfor Patented Apr. 11, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFIE REMOVABLE ATTACHMENT FOR TYPEWRITE'RS Application May 6, 1936, Serial No. 78,083

7 Claims.

This invention relates to typewriters and particularly to accessories or attachments thereto.

The primary object of the present invention is to provide a means whereby the flash of the keys of the typewriter may be considerably reduced and overcome by the provision of a detachable element which is clampingly and removably supported on top of the typewriter and underneath the ribbon spools thereof, the said attachment also preventing excess dirt and other matter from falling into the typewriter, the detachable feature of the casing or plate permitting ready and easy access to the typewriter keys for cleaning, repairing and other purposes.

Another important object of the invention is the provision of a detachable element or casing having means to permit easy and instant attachment of the device to existing typewriters as well as permitting ready detachability thereof.

Numerous other objects and advantages will be apparent throughout the progress of the following specification.

The accompanying drawings illustrate a selected embodiment of the invention and the views therein are as follows:

Fig. 1 is a detail elevational view showing the improved casing applied to a typewriter;

Fig. 2 is a detail sectional view taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1 and showing the improved casing in top plan view;

Fig. 3 is a detail end elevation, parts being broken away for the sake of clearness;

Fig. 4 is a detail. sectional view on the line 4-4 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a detail bottom plan view of the improved casing or cover;

Fig. 6 is a detail sectional view on the line 6-6 of Fig. 1; and

Fig. 7 is a detail sectional view on the line 1-1 of Fig. 1.

The particular casing or covering herein disclosed for the purpose of illustration comprises a covering or casing I having a relatively fiat top 2, Fig. 2, with an opening 3 provided therein. The opening 3 is positioned relatively centrally of the casing or cover plate I and is defined by a straight edge 4 communicating with relatively semi-circular end edges 5 which merge into side curving sections 6. On either side of the opening 3, defined by the curved portion 6, are upwardly curved or inclined portions or wings I. U-shaped slots 8 are provided near the side edges of the casing or cover plate and are for the purpose of receiving the ribbon spools 9 of a typewriter. The typewriter herein disclosed to illustrate one embodiment of the invention is the well known Woodstock typewriter.

The peripheral front edge of the cover plate is provided with a vertical flange Ii] which receives the front periphery of the typewriter at the nor- 5 mal upper edge thereof. Side flanges II are of the same depth as the front flange it and are adapted to extend over the side edges of the typewriter frame forwardly of the platen. The cover is raised a predetermined distanceabove the up- 10 per surface I2 of the typewriter frame, as indicated at I3, to provide sufficient room for the operation of the keys and to prevent hindrance thereof. A forwardly extending lip I4, Fig. 1, extends downwardly from the cover plate and its 15 purpose is to cover the opening which normally exists in the front part of typewriters.

The under side of the casing or cover plate I, Fig. 5, is provided with resilient material, such as felt, designated by the numeral I6, Fig. 5, so that 20 there will be no metal-to-metal contact. Protuberances or bosses H are formed on the under side of the cover plate and these are arranged forwardly of the inner edges of the U-shaped slots 8. The purpose of these protuberances is to provide a support for spring holding members I8. These spring holding members are fixed to the protuberances I7 in any convenient manner, such as by screws I9. The spring holding members have a relatively straight portion 26 terminating 30 in a reverse curve, providing a holding curved portion 2|. Resilient noise-resisting materials, such as rubber tubing 22, may be placed about the members I8 to avoid metal-to-metal contact.

The end of the casing or cover plate at the top 35 thereof near the platen inclines downwardly, as indicated at 23, Figs. 3 and 6, to permit the operator or typist to have proper vision of the keys as they strike the paper.

The entire cover plate or casing I is made in a unitary structure and its contour is such that it can be readily and quickly applied to existing typewriters as well as being an accessory or attachment for new typewriters. Regardless of the make of typewriter, of the nature similar to 45 the one herein shown, a cover plate or casing can be made. In applying the device it is arranged so that the under face of the plate will engage the upper face of the typewriter frame and then pressed inwardly toward the platen, with the 50 spools engaging the slots. The upper surface of the plates surrounding the spools, Fig. 2, may be covered with felt 24 or other insulating material so as to prevent metal-to-metal contact at that point. As the cover plate is being applied in position, the spring members l8 will yield to permit the device to he slid in place, and after the device has been slid home the spring members will press against the inner side edges of the ribbon spools and secure the device rigidly in position. When it is desired to remove the device, the same can be pulled away from the typewriter in the direction shown by the directional arrow in Fig. 6. By pulling the device, the spring members [8 will instantly yield and permit the cover plate or casing to be removed.

The invention provides a relatively simple device for attachment to typewriters. The cover device overcomes the flash caused by the operation of the keys, prevents foreign matter from falling into the typewriter, and tends to reduce the sound somewhat. The device is rigid and durable in construction; it can 'be readily applied and can be readily removed. The removability of the device is a feature in that it permits the operator to have easy and, ready access to the keys for the purpose of cleaning or making repairs thereto.

Changes may be made in the form, construction and arrangement of the parts without departing from the spirit of the invention or sacrificing any of its advantages, and the right is hereby reserved to make all such changes as fairly fall within the scope of the following claims.

The invention is hereby claimed as follows:

1. A cover plate for typewriters comprising a.

plate adapted to be supported on the upper surface of a typewriter frame forwardly of the typewriter platen, said plate being provided with U- shaped recesses for the reception of the typewriter ribbon spools, and means on the plate and engaging the spools for holding the plate in position.

2. A cover plate for typewriters having ribbon spools, comprising a completely separable body adapted to be slidably mounted above the upper surface of a typewriter, and means on the cover plate and removably engaging the spools for releasably maintaining the plate in said position.

3. A cover plate for typewriters comprising a plate adapted to be supported on the upper surface of a typewriter frame forwardly of the typewriter platen, said plate being provided With recesses for the reception of the typewriter ribbon spools, and means on the plate and engaging the spools for holding the plate in. position.

4. A cover plate for typewriters comprising a plate adapted to be supported on the upper surface of a typewriter frame forwardly of the typewriter platen, said plate being provided with recesses extending from the rear edge thereof for the reception of upstanding means upon the upper surface of the typewriter, the plate being slidable rearwardly in the direction of said recesses to operative position with the said upstanding members engaged in the said recesses, and means on the plate extending substantially in said direction and engageable with the typewriter when the plate is slidably moved to operative position for releasably holding the plate in said position.

5. In combination with a typewriter, a cover plate supported on the upper surface of the typewriter frame forwardly of the typewriter platen, said plate engaging portions of the typewriter and being positively constrained against substantial movement transversely to the plane of the said upper surface of the typewriter but being freely separable from the typewriter by sliding movement in a direction substantially in the plane of said upper surface, and means on the plate and engaging the typewriter for releasably maintaining the plate in operative position.

6. A cover plate for a typewriter adapted, to be disposed on the upper surface of the typewriter frame, said plate having a recess extending from one edge thereof, means on said typewriter frame engaging said recess and providing a guide means whereby the plate is slidable relatively to the frame in the direction longitudinally of the recess but constrained from lateral movement in operative position, and friction means engaging a part of the typewriter when the plate is in operative position for detachably securing it in place.

'7. A cover plate for a typewriter, adapted to be disposed on the upper surface of a typewriter frame, means on said typewriter frame and interengageable with co-operable means on the cover plate for guiding said plate in a predetermined path of slidable movement substantially in the plane of the cover plate, said path of slidable movement permitting disengagement of the plate from the typewriter and movement to operative position, and means on the cover plate to resiliently interlock with a portion of the typewriter when the plate is caused to slide to operative position to operatively position andhold the same removably on the typewriter.

JAMES F. KOCA. 

